Cocktails with Carl
Leading with an Attitude of Gratitude
It’s that time of year again, 2021 is winding down and Thanksgiving Day is right around the corner. In between all the gluttonous behavior, we’ll be asked to share with those around our dinner table exactly what we are most thankful for. For a few minutes, we’ll be forced to be contemplative then articulate up to half a dozen things we are grateful for when it’s our turn to speak. We’ll hear all the old standbys regarding our health and well-being, how much we love one another, etc. Then the meal will end and it will all be soon forgotten as attention turns to football, pie, and sleep. Sound familiar?
This isn’t a bad ritual by any means and doing it at least one time per year is certainly better than not doing it at all. But, I am going to make a different recommendation for the coming new year and that is to begin intentionally practicing gratitude each and every day.
Easier said than done, right? We’ve endured a pretty rough couple of years and the end of the bad news doesn’t seem to be coming anytime soon. Just turn on the television or open your Twitter feed. There’s been a lot more to complain about than there has been to be thankful for.
So exactly how do we forget about this constant barrage of negativity each day and instead replace it with gratitude practice? It takes a lot of work, and to help you on your own journey, I’ve listed a number of ideas you can implement below.
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Pretty straightforward idea here. Simply write down the things you are grateful for each day. After a couple of weeks, you’ll realize just how blessed you are and you’ll have the momentum to stay focused on the positive vs the negative.
Dedicate Time for Reflection
You can call this meditation or quiet time-but spend some time in solitude thinking about the things that you are thankful for. Taking a walk is a great way to get out in nature where you are visually presented with a myriad of things to be thankful for.
Volunteer Your Time
Spend some time helping others with something you may take for granted. Serve meals at a homeless shelter or teach someone basic job skills for entry-level work. Studies have shown that doing this will give you a greater appreciation for where you are at in your own life.
Pay it Forward
Buy a coffee or meal for the next person in line. Sometimes you need to demonstrate gratitude anonymously.This is a great way to do it.
Say Thank You
Look someone in the eye and genuinely tell them that you are thankful for something specific about themselves. It could be something that they’ve said or done recently or it could be a quality that they have that brings out the best in you.
Verbalize 1 Thing Each Day
My recommendation here would be to recite something you're thankful for to your family every night at dinner-and ask your family members to do the same in return. This exercise is habit-forming and holds everyone accountable to share something with one another every day.
Each of these ideas has helped me tremendously in establishing my own gratitude habits. It takes discipline and since I’m not perfect, sometimes I forget or get overwhelmed with negative thoughts. It happens. I still have a lot to learn.
The key is to get started. Give it a try and see what works for you. You’ll find your own methods and ideas as you move forward. Then keep going.
Good Luck!
Fireball Caramel Cider
Fireball = Instant Thanksgiving party!
1.5 ozs Fireball Whiskey
1 tablespoon Caramel Sauce
3 ozs Apple Cider
Cinnamon Stick
Apple Slice
Fill a cocktail shaker with some ice and the first 3 ingredients. Shake well and pour into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Garnish with the cinnamon stick and apple slice.